schmitt



diter i PETER J. SCHMITT, OF CARLIVILLE, ILLINOIS'ASSIGNOR TO SEIGEL, SCHMITT, AND CO MPA NY, OF SAME PLACEL. Letters Patent N o. 89,247, clatcll April 20, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-DRILLS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that J, PETER I. SeHMr'r'r, of Carlinville, in the county ofl Macoupin, and State of Illinois,

proper depth in the soil.

Secondly, in the method of operating the dukes to regulate the'distance between them, producing a straight or zigzag setting, in accordance with the nature of the ground, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Thirdly, in the arrangement for moving the rubber, or leather seed-tubes, which feed the grain to the dukes, so that the said tubes may not be strained or injured when the dukes are being moved to a zigzag Setting.

To enable those herein skilled, to make and use my said improvements, I will now fully describe the same, referring to Figure l as a sectional elevation; to

Figure 2 as a plan;

Figure 8 as a sectional elevation; to

Figures 4 and 5, respectively, as front and side detail views; to

Figures 6 and 7 as plans and section, respectively, of a second method of operating drag-bars.

I construct the frame A of my said machine generally in the usual manner, supported upon the axle B and wheels B.

At therear'end of said frame, I arrange the seeddukes C, suspending the same by chains to the frame, as usually done, and connecting the same by drag-bars D, with the forward end ofthe frame, in a manner yet to be described.

It is well known that when the points of the dukes, or teeth G become clogged with grass or rubbish, and especially in hard soil, the said dukes will rise out of the ground, and the seed will then drop upon the surface, being, to a great extent, wasted. In order to avoid this, and to canse the dukes to penetrate and properly furrow the ground, I arrange the pressurehar E, resting transversely across the frame A, on all drag-bars D, usually close to the dukes C.

Said bar E is guided in the levers F, which are hinged on the shaft F', which is secured, by proper bearings, to the frame A. l

One or both of said levers. F will pass up beyond the shaft Fl, and form-a hand-lever, by means whereof, the operator will turn the said levers F, and raise the pressure-bar E from its position on the dragbars D. 4

In order that a due pressure may be exerted on the bar E and drag-bars D, as here required, and, moreover, in order that said pressure may be uniform, or nearly such, whatever may be the position of the frame and its supporting-wheels, I arrange the lower ends of the levers F, slotted at j, and construct the spring F2, which, by its ends, rests upon the shaft F1, and is properly connected herewith, and then passes down to connect with the pressure-bar E; or said spring F2 may he reversed, so that its ends connect with the bar E, and its centre connects with the shaft F'.

It may be desirable to lfurthermore arrange a spiral spring centrally connecting said shaft F and bar E. Byall saidmeans an elastic pressure is exerted upon the bar E, and the duke are lheld in ground.

When the soil is hard, and contains large clods, or other impediments to a free movement of the dukes, it becomes advisable to increase the distance between the dukes, to afford a freer passage therefor This I arrange by throwing each alternate duke forward or backward, in the mannernow to be described.

The drag-bars D are connected to the crank-bar'G, which is journalled at its end to the main frame A, and carries the gear-wheel G.

In engagement with the wheel G is the wheel G1, secured'by its shaft upon the frame A.

Said wheel G2 is turned by the rod H, operated by a hand-lever, H', which will usually be arranged on the frame A', at the rearI end thereof, in convenient position to the driver. The operator is, therefore, enabled to reverse the position of the crank-har G by moving the lhand-bar H', andhas is plain from dg. 2, the alternate dukes will thus be drawn forward or moved back, thus placing said dukes in a zigzag line.

In case it is inconvenient to apply the crank-bar G and its operating-devices, I arrange the shifting-bars I, supporting the forward ends of the drag-bars I), and resting, when the dukes are in a straight line, in the slots t" of the frame A. When the dukes are to be moved to a zigzag line, the operator lifts the bars I out of `the slots t' to the slots il', accomplishing the movement of the dukes as desired.

Should the tongue of the drill rest directly upon the frame A, and interfere to prevent the shifting-bars I from'being easily raised, then the divisions between the slots 'L' and t" may be made removable, and, being removed, the bars I may be slid from the one to the other required position. A readjustment, by proper set-screws, or other means, of the division-pieces between said'slots will then secure the bars I in position.'

In the movement of the dukes from a right line to a zigzag setting, the rubber, or leather feed-tubesy being usually held dxedlyT at upper ends, and dropping within the iiukes at lower ends, will ordinarily be cramped and injured. To avoid this, I arrange to shift the upper ends of said tubes,`as in gs. l and 2 shown.

I connect the tubes K to the slides K', shaping said slides generally as shown in plan, g. 2. n

Said slides have the rods le connecting them to the crank-bar G, orits alternative, the shiftin g-bar I, so that as the flakes are moved by the crank-bar, the slides Kare compelled to follow.

To allow said movement, said, slides will be supported on brackets It', secured to the frame A.

Above said slides K, to complete the feed-device, I arrange feed-tubes L, usually of sheet-metal, hinging the same to the under side of the feed-box M, and

fitted to vibrate at lower ends With'the slides K.

Having thu's described my invention,

What I claim, is-- l 1. rIhe manner oi holding,r the lukes in ground by elastic pressure upon the bar E, substantially as set forth.

2. Moving the lukes to a zigzag or right-line set- 

